Extended highlights

With commentary and that

 

Watched it earlier .... I lost my video streaming yesterday for all the 2nd half and having seen these highlights I'm surprised at how we let them back into the game, so much so that I could have foreseen us chucking it away.
But at least I saw all the first half.
The best bit !!

 

How poor are we defensively? Dear me.

Not just the goals, but the free header inside the six yard box at 3-1 which thankfully was put too close to Roberts. Other occasions. And it’s the same every game.

Chances to clear not taken, a square run across the box from the left channel (our right) leading to a goal - again.

A win’s a win and it was a cracking result - but even with ‘poor’ (I’m not convinced they’re that bad) defenders, they can at least be coached to not make the same errors on repeat? At least not as often?

I’m starting to get confused about Collins at this point. I’ve softened from the definitely wanting him out stance a tad as it’s a results driven business and his recent results, and overall record, are pretty good.

But there’s so much to be concerned about going into the second half of the season. Would a decent centre back signing definitely make HIS team perform better?

You have to hope so but that second half did as much to add to the argument to change him than the first half took away.

 

A lot said about our substitutions yesterday, but the defence went to pieces once McCart went off. I don't think that Mael and Lopata knew what areas were their responsibility.

 

The commentators mentioned McCart had an injury and I think his leaving left the defence unbalanced, let's hope he's ok for Friday

 

The best bit about the second half was the Port Vale commentator slagging Lopata off every time the ball went near him ‘ the balls past back to Lopata , I’m surprised he’s not gone down ‘

 

Mael is often caught out positionally, something he can't really afford with his lack of pace. Hopefully that will happen less with experience. On the other hand he does look very classy on the ball and often wins it high up the pitch - yesterday and Exeter both leading to goals. There's definitely bags of potential in him. Lopata likewise will only get better over the next 2-3 years.

 

Only 4 teams have conceded fewer goals than we have. Generally, we’re not poor defensively. We looked poor second half yesterday because we lost both our most important player in Connell and our most consistent and reliable centre half in McCart.

 

Made this point a few weeks ago to someone else, but our impressive goals conceded record isn’t necessarily an indication that we aren’t defensively suspect; it is at least equally (and arguably a lot more) down to the majority of the season having had an exceptional goalkeeper making numerous saves.

You also get away with it a bit at this level against a lot of teams. It isn’t an accident that the only top eight team we’ve beaten is Stevenage, who let’s face it weren’t very good, on the day at least. The better sides have tended to expose us.

 

I have to agree about the defence. It often looks a complete shambles. Historically, central defence has been one of our strengths. One thinks of Winstanley and Howard, McCarthy and Evans, Futcher and May, and, more recently, Mawson and Roberts, Pinnock and Lindsay, Helik and Andersen - a long list of dominant centre-backs. We have to improve in this area, or it will cost us a good chance of promotion.

 

He needs to play the Matty Appleby role imo.

 

I'm not that bothered, as long as we score more than the other team we'll get promotion. Unless the rules have changed.

 

Without a doubt. I'm not expecting another Helik any time soon, but we should be looking for another Sollbauer kind of player. Someone to anchor the centrebacks and give them some valuable matchday defensive leadership.

 

Mael wouldn't look out of place as a defensive midfielder alongside Connell.

 

I’d take a 3-2 or a 4-3 win every week from now on! Conceding goals is unavoidable but we’ve got plenty of goals to come at the other end.

 

Agree with both of those ideas. I really enjoy watching him, even though he gives me the heebie-jeebies half the time. So did Appleby tbf!

 

Williams is adequately playing that at the moment - a mistake waiting to happen. (And I'm one of Williams' biggest fans, but he has been dreadful of late.)

 

Yeah I’d like to see Jordan back in his proper place a pacy centre half signed and Mark moved to the Matty Appleby role.

 

Centre halves are nowhere near pacey at our level. Mads wasn't pacey. For us, recently, Pinnock was swift but after him you're pushing it, if you want someone with aerial presence as well. Most times the forward they're looking after isn't pacey either. It's more positional and anticipational. Brain pacey, a la poor man's Bobby Moore.

If MDG came with blistering pace then he'd be Beckenbauer and not at BFC. He's the best we've had for a while in bringing it forward and distributing from the back. Better than Mads, although he's a far inferior defender. McCart has had a load of stick on here for some reason, but he's good and solid. Lopata looks well rusty and Shepherd seems to be in the Use In Emergency Only tent with Watters.

I'd keep Williams J where he is, cos he can cover for pace and because there's nobody better in the squad. If picked at wing back he can run but can't pass well or cross or beat a man. Mind you, neither can Baz or Corey.

Priority for Jan should be a thrusting running midfielder and a decent right side wing back/winger. Push the boat out.

 

Commanding organised centre half first in for me. Williams is weaker where he is and streets better than the other 2 at RWB so move him back there. Bring Lopata back in. Move Mael alongside Connell in defensive midfield. Another energetic player wouldn't go amiss